Game Meat Poaching Rife in Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON DC —
A Zimbabwean anti-poaching specialist says game meat poaching is now rife in the country due to increasing poverty levels.

Bryce Peter Clemence, director of an anti-poaching training institute - Aggressive Tracking Specialists - said villagers in most parts of Zimbabwe are believed to be teaming up with local poachers to kill wild animals for domestic consumption.

Clemence, who is currently on an international program in the united states where he is observing activities of U.S anti-poaching units together with representatives of eight other African nations, said the poaching activities have been worsened by the high demand for rhino horns and elephant tusks.

He said it has become difficult to control such activities as poachers are normally heavily armed and demoralised anti-poaching units are also poorly paid.

He is attending a three-week wildlife conservation, anti-poaching and anti-trafficking workshop in the USA. Other participants are from Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Angola, South Africa, Botswana and Uganda.